. . . discovering what it means to follow Jesus, seeing my story swept up into His. . .

Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Into His Suffering. . . What A Gift! . . .

"Why is this happening to me?!?" Ever think that? Ask that? Say that? Or how about this one. . . "What have I done to deserve this?"

The abundant luxuries, conveniences, and comforts of our lives have lulled us into a faulty theology that leaves us expecting life to be easy. And when it's not. . . well. . . something must be wrong. We've somehow come to believe that God exists to make our lives easy. Having lived lives where we can push a button, flip a switch, take a pill, or pick up the phone to call an expert. . .again, we've been lulled into expecting the instant fix that removes pains, difficulties, and inconveniences in no time at all. Avoid pain. . . pursue pleasure. . . that's what life is all about.

This is the week when we ponder the suffering of Christ on our behalf. We should also meditate on the gift He gives of inviting us into His suffering. James tells us to "consider it all joy" when we face trials and suffering of all kinds.

I love this little reminder from C.S. Lewis: “God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to
us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a
deaf world”

"Take up your cross. . . " isn't an invitation to a life of ease. It is, however, an invitation to life.

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Who I am. . .

Walt Mueller. . . a guy who was made, messed up, and mercifully made over by His grace. . . struggling to live life to His glory in the now but not yet Kingdom of God. . . longing to enter into that glorious time when what originally was will be fully restored.

How I spend my days. . .

after several years doing youth ministry, I've spent the last 24 years studying, writing, and speaking about youth culture with a great group of folks at the Center for Parent/Youth Understanding. I've been married to my wife Lisa for over 30 years and we've been blessed with four children. . . and twin grandchildren.